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電燈膽
  din6 dang1 daam2   jyutping
[1] lightbulb | shortened form: 燈膽; Mandarin equivalent: 電燈
[2] unwelcome companion; third/fifth wheel

For the second meaning as "unwelcome person", 電燈膽 is the first part of a 歇後語 that has 唔通 as the second (hidden) part. There is a double-sense pun in 唔通. Literally, it means "no ventilation" when referring to the airtight condition of a lightbulb. It also has a second meaning of "tactless; unwelcome; not showing good sense" referring especially to someone who intrudes on a courting couple.
Idiom
noun

Level: 4   Google Frequency: 2,490

This term is used in Cantonese, not Mandarin/Standard written Chinese.
電燈膽 / 电灯胆

This word has been viewed 5502 times since 30th Oct 2012, was added by claw on 20th Jul 2004 10:55 and last edited on 25th Aug 2011 05:14
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Characters in this word:

 din6  -  lightning; electricity
 dang1  -  light, lamp
 daam2  -  guts

1 compounds containing this word:

慳電燈膽 - energy efficient light bulbs; energy-saving light bulbs
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Copyright Adam Sheik 2003-2024.